Donal Lenihan: Springboks supremacy aided by eight man bench - does World Rugby need to revisit rule?

How is it safe for an out half or centre, with 70 minutes of game time behind him, to have to tackle a fresh rampaging behemoth stationed in midfield off a line out, ready to explode down his channel?

South Africa head coach Rassie Erasmus. Pic: Andrew Matthews/PA

IT FINISHED where it started. Springbok lock Eben Etzebeth, overcome by red mist, became the third second row to be sent off, along with Lood de Jäger and Franco Mostert, on South Africa’s five game November series across Europe.

If Mostert’s card for an high hit on Italian out half Paulo Garbisi was correctly overturned on appeal —yet another example of the level of inconsistency from officials throughout the month — Etzebeth’s reckless eye gouge of Alex Mann will result in a long term ban.